Re: BOTM 4/13: Old Grand Dad 114

I picked up a bottle last night (under $22 plus tax at Spec's). It makes a fantastic Old Fashioned! Not sure whether it's the high rye, high proof or big flavors, but it made for a better cocktail than VOB 86, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses SmB and other bottom-/mid-shelfs. I think it was on par with an Old Fashioned I made with Baker's once.

My second experience of the evening was with a splash of water. BIG flavors, but smoother than I expected. I had the feeling of a thousand tiny pinpricks on my tongue long after each sip. Whereas I typically have to slow myself down when sipping other bourbons neat, the OGD 114's finish demanded that I slow my roll. Very interesting effect.

And the funny thing is that, after finishing my pour, I intended to write up these impressions here. But I found myself heading upstairs, brushing my teeth, crawling into bed and falling asleep at 9:30 (about 2 hours earlier than normal). Powerful stuff...

I definitely intend to do more comparisons and critical sipping, but my initial impression is that OGD 114 is a winner. Likely not an everyday sipper though!

Re: BOTM 4/13: Old Grand Dad 114

Originally Posted by michang5

I picked up a bottle last night (under $22 plus tax at Spec's). It makes a fantastic Old Fashioned! Not sure whether it's the high rye, high proof or big flavors, but it made for a better cocktail than VOB 86, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses SmB and other bottom-/mid-shelfs. I think it was on par with an Old Fashioned I made with Baker's once.

My second experience of the evening was with a splash of water. BIG flavors, but smoother than I expected. I had the feeling of a thousand tiny pinpricks on my tongue long after each sip. Whereas I typically have to slow myself down when sipping other bourbons neat, the OGD 114's finish demanded that I slow my roll. Very interesting effect.

And the funny thing is that, after finishing my pour, I intended to write up these impressions here. But I found myself heading upstairs, brushing my teeth, crawling into bed and falling asleep at 9:30 (about 2 hours earlier than normal). Powerful stuff...

I definitely intend to do more comparisons and critical sipping, but my initial impression is that OGD 114 is a winner. Likely not an everyday sipper though!

Re: BOTM 4/13: Old Grand Dad 114

Originally Posted by T Comp

I finished off an '07 recently (bottled on the 204th day ) that was also sublime and could compete with any of the top shelf bottlings like BTACs. I'm waiting to coax similar flavors out of a '12 but so far it ain't happening with more spice, hot and dry than I care for.

Heh heh, I'll leave it to the lawyers to hammer out the details on the years I haven't had any 2007s, but it's good to know that the "deadline" wasn't until later. I still don't know why they changed, if they indeed did. I can't prove it, of course...

Re: BOTM 4/13: Old Grand Dad 114

I know I'm late, but I'll have to pick up a bottle of this soon. I still have two more days!

I have the BIB, and enjoy it very much, but have not had the 114 proof. At $20 and $25 for the two, the BIB is a better value, but I'm curious how the higher proof one tastes and what differences there might be between the two other than just the alcohol content.

Re: BOTM 4/13: Old Grand Dad 114

For me, one of the great things about SB is that it leads me to new whiskey discoveries, and this one was a revelation. Coincidentally, in my pre-SB days when I'd just order a shot of rail bourbon with a beer wash, I would occasionally upgrade to a shot of OGD BIB, which I considered the "good stuff." I had never heard of the 114. I'm late to this BOTM thread because it took me a while to get my hands on a 114, but there it was, in the giant liquor store, tucked in with the other OGDs on the bottom shelf. I've been sampling it for 10 days or so now, and I love it. I'll second Squire's tasting notes from early in this thread, but I'm not sure if the 114 should remain unchanged: I'd like a more complex nose and a finish that lingered a little longer, but that's nitpicking. I also agree with Squire that if this label launched today, it would be marketed as a top-shelf bourbon at twice the price. This is a great bourbon at a great price that will become a regular purchase of mine. Thanks for picking this as BOTM, Joe.

Re: BOTM 4/13: Old Grand Dad 114

I finally got around to buying a bottle of this, and now that I'm about half way through it I can say that I really like this stuff. It will be in my regular rotation. It's a great whiskey for taking hiking too due to the higher proof...a little goes a long way for those nighttime nips.